Why I Want to Be an Ironman

Sports have played a pivotal role throughout my life. What has truly shaped me as both an athlete and a spectator has little to do with record-breaking stats, fierce rivalries, or even awe-inspiring abilities; instead, it's been witnessing moments of unthinkable comebacks, unbreakable resilience, or tireless effort and heart.

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Like Dick Hoyt, who for the past 37 years has carried, towed, and pushed his wheelchair-bound son in over 1,000 races. Or like 2014 Paralympic Snowboard Cross bronze medalist Amy Purdy, who never stopped chasing her passions—even after losing both her legs. Or like American Meb Keflezighi who, after an emotional win at the 2014 Boston Marathon this week, told reporters, "This is beyond running. The bomb happened [last year], and every day since, I said I want to come back and win it."

Each and every story is a physical testament that anything—truly anything—is possible. They remind us that if you want something badly enough in life, and you never give up, you can accomplish it.

There's maybe no single sporting event that brings that message to life better than the Ironman World Championship in Kailua-Kona, Hawaii. Watching the NBC broadcast each year, I'm captivated and livened by the herculean efforts of these exceptional athletes. For a fleeting moment each year, I imagine what it would be like to stand in their shoes.

But when Team Chocolate Milk asked if I would be interested in training for the 2014 Ironman World Championship with Olympic legend Apolo Ohno, my first thought was, 'You've got the wrong girl.' There were probably a hundred reasons why I should have said no. For starters, I have a demanding job and work long hours, the race was less than eight months away, and oh, not to mention, it had only been a year since my ACL surgery.

But while an Ironman is certainly not something you decide to do on a whim, this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity was also not something to turn down without careful consideration. I dissected the pros and cons with my family and friends, consulted my sports medicine doctor, and spent countless nights playing out every possible outcome in my mind.

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I understood the gravity—saying yes would mean shifting my entire life around. It would have to be all in or nothing at all. And I was good with all that. I was willing to make sacrifices. I was willing to follow a rigorous training plan to the very best of my ability. I knew I had the very best support system to guide me every step of the way. In the end, the only thing holding me back was the fearful voice in the back of my mind saying, 'But what if you fail?'

That's when it hit me: Knee surgery might have sidelined me, but it was my mindset that was keeping me there. Physically I had healed, but psychologically I was more bruised up than ever. Without ever realizing it, I had settled. I had started to doubt that I would ever get back to the level that I had been at before—let alone achieve anything greater. I was still a glass-half-full optimist who believed anything was possible, but I guess somewhere along the way I started thinking that rule pertained to everyone but me.

It's time for me to get back in the game. It’s time to win back my own confidence and prove I’m still capable of anything I set my mind to. Am I still scared? Of course. If I wasn't, I probably shouldn't be doing it. It's an extreme honor to even stand in the presence of these athletes, and it's not something I take lightly—or something I necessarily believe I deserve. But I do believe this was the big push I had been waiting for, the scary leap of faith that I desperately needed.

Everyone at Kona has a story. This is the start of mine. Follow me at @jen_ator on Twitter and Instagram as I share my journey, and stay tuned for more updates on womenshealthmag.com.

Mission Apolo: BUILT WITH CHOCOLATE MILK campaign will capture the transformational journey of eight-time Olympic medalist Apolo Ohno and Women’s Health Fitness Director Jen Ator as they train for the world’s most grueling endurance race: the IRONMAN® World Championship triathlon – a 140.6-mile swim-bike-run event in Kailua-Kona, Hawaii on October 11, 2014. Stay tuned for updates on womenshealthmag.com and gotchocolatemilk.com, or join the conversation (and cheer them on!) by using the hashtag #MissionApolo on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. Visit ironman.com to learn more about IRONMAN and the IRONMAN® World Championship.

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